Wigan Warriors 0 St Helens 42: Five things we learned

1. A scoreline like that, and any review would normally make grim reading.

But even those opposed to Adrian Lam's decision to rest his first-choice squad for a derby ahead of a Challenge Cup semi-final - and there were a few - must have admired the character the side showed.

Umyla Hanley, Sam Halsall, James McDonnell, Harry Rushton, Ben Kilner and Kai Pearce-Paul could all hold their heads up high after their first appearance at this level.

Kilner, especially, caught the eye with his aggression and energy in the middle while Canberra-bound Rushton was their top tackler with 41.

2. The 2003 derby triumph, with a depleted side, was referenced a lot in the build-up.

A sobering thought - Umyla Hanley had just turned one at the time!

Wigan's line-up had an average age of 22, and was captained by a 20-year-old, in Harry Smith.

It was the first time the Warriors had given Super League debuts to so many players in one match.

And it's worth remembering for many of them, this was their first match - at any level - since before the lockdown in March.

3. This wasn't all about the 'young 'uns', of course.

The rest of the squad consisted of either fringe players, or those trying to cement a place in Lam's first-choice side.

Centre Chris Hankinson motored through a lot of work, hooker Amir Bourouh tried to add a spark, prop Joe Bullock proved a handful on his return from a broken hand, Ben Flower added some mettle from the bench and Mitch Clark made 38 tackles.

Lam must be able to take comfort from knowing Wigan will tackle the next eight weeks with cover and competition across the board, especially in the pack, where academy-graduates such as Ethan Havard, Joe Shorrocks and Ollie Partington are high up the pecking order.

4. To the game, and Saints were good value for the win.

They aren't the type of side to put the cue on the rack, and they followed up with a three-try blitz in the first-half - which established an 18-0 lead - with four tries after the break, all converted by Lachlan Coote.

Their combinations were slick, their counterattack impressive, but credit to their defence, too, for not buckling when Wigan put them under pressure.

Regan Grace, who seems to enjoy playing Wigan, scored a double and opposite winger Jack Welsby also scored two. Interestingly, Welsby was in the same Shevington Sharks side as Wigan debutant Halsall - while the junior club was also represented by Jake Bibby and Hanley.

5. It wasn't an ugly game but both sides lost a player to the sin-bin - and Lam thinks the match review panel may take action over the tackle which led to Jack Wells' injury.

Saints prop Alex Walmsley was among those involved in the tackle which led to his suffering a knee injury midway through the first-half. He faces four to six weeks out with a medial ligament injury.

"It didn't look good, they've been cracking down quite hard on that sort of action, no doubt it'll be under the microscope," said Lam.

Wells, cruelly, had only just returned to the side after a three-year absence following successive serious foot injuries.

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